50-pound turtle apprehended in Texas

AMARILLO, Texas It's not every day you go outside and see a 50-pound turtle in the middle of your street.

Just such a creature was on the lam from an unknown origin. He was corralled by homeowner Jeff Burkett.

"I couldn't believe he was outside just wandering around," Burkett said. "He followed me right up on the sidewalk. I called 911 because I couldn't think of anything else to do. It was a trip."

Mind you, this was not an ordinary turtle that you used to get at the pet store for 50 cents. This sucker was big.

Syrena Carrasco, a city of Amarillo Animal Control officer, estimated his weight at 50 pounds. Burkett thought he might weigh more.

"I didn't pick him up to see," he said. "He's really good-natured, though."

Because the gender of the animal was not discussed by officials, everyone assumed the unnamed fugitive was a male. Determining the sex of the animal was not an issue with authorities.

"My wife said, 'Uh-uh, there isn't a turtle that big in our yard,'" Burkett said. "My daughter didn't believe me either. I had to take pictures of him to show them since they weren't home at the time."

The animal is unofficially estimated to be 30 years old, said Shannon Barlow, Animal Control supervisor.